Peace Corps has high-tech goals in Mexico

Volunteer team will offer advice on water, business and engineering

Published 5:30 am, Monday, October 11, 2004

For the first time, Peace Corps volunteers have been sent to Mexico to assist the country in information technology, small-business development and water management.

The agreement to send a team of engineers and business advisers to Mexico was reached after two years of discussions between the United States and Mexico. The volunteers will work with Mexico's National Council on Science and Technology.

Although the Peace Corps historically is known for its volunteer efforts in providing education, environmental sanitation and agricultural assistance, mostly in developing countries, spokeswoman Barbara Daly said the mission in Mexico has more high-tech goals.

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The 11 volunteers, who traveled to Mexico last Saturday, include a water-resource engineer with 33 years of experience, a business adviser with more than 25 years in management and an environmental engineer with a doctorate.

"These volunteers are the best and the brightest volunteers," Daly said. "This is kind of the Peace Corps in the 21st century that we are seeing here."

A representative of the Mexican government could not be reached.

Jorge Gallardo, the science council's representative in the United States, told the Fort Worth Star-Telegram last week that the council had "found an excellent opportunity through Peace Corps to broaden our bilateral relationship regarding scientific and technological cooperation."

Daly said the idea of sending volunteers to Mexico emerged after President Bush and Mexican President Vicente Fox developed the "Partnership for Prosperity" initiative three years ago, she said.

"This is exciting for Peace Corps, and it's exciting for Mexico," Daly said. "We're looking forward to opening up lines of communication and partnering together. I think the synergies will be fantastic. They have a great deal of talent, and we are looking forward to sharing our talent with theirs."

The Peace Corps, created in 1961 by President Kennedy, has sent more than 171,000 volunteers on two-year stints to 137 nations. Of those volunteers, 5,379 have been from Texas and 724 from Houston.

Currently, 7,533 volunteers, including 353 from Texas and 17 from Houston, are serving in 71 foreign countries.

Daly said the number of volunteers represents a 26-year high because of a surge in recruits after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.

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"I attribute a lot of that to the environment we are working in and living in today," Daly said. "People want to do something, and this is a way they can contribute back to their country and also put a face on America in an overseas country."